Time-Resolved Phenotypic and Transcriptomic Responses of Primary Canine Dermal Fibroblasts to Prolonged Hypothermic Stress

Abstract

Prolonged low-temperature exposure may extend the preservation window of mammalian cells but can also disrupt cellular homeostasis and ultimately compromise cell viability. This study investigated the time-dependent phenotypic and transcriptomic responses of primary canine dermal fibroblasts to sustained hypothermic stress. Passage-three fibroblasts were continuously maintained at 15 for up to 15 days, with samples collected on Days 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15. Cellular morphology, metabolic activity and viability, and apoptosis were evaluated using bright-field microscopy, Cell Counting Kit-8 assays, and Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide flow cytometry, respectively. RNA sequencing was performed to characterize dynamic transcriptional changes throughout the exposure period. Early low-temperature exposure was associated with relatively preserved cellular morphology and viability, suggesting a transient adaptive response. With increasing exposure duration, fibroblasts exhibited progressive morphological deterioration, reduced metabolic activity, loss of adhesion, and increased apoptosis. Time-series transcriptomic analysis further revealed temporally coordinated and stage-dependent gene-expression programs associated with metabolic regulation, cellular stress responses, structural homeostasis, and cell survival. Integration of phenotypic and transcriptomic data demonstrated that the response of primary canine dermal fibroblasts to 15 was dynamic rather than linear, progressing from early adaptation to cumulative dysfunction during prolonged exposure. These findings provide a framework for defining the low-temperature tolerance of primary canine dermal fibroblasts and may inform the optimization of protocols for their short- to medium-term preservation and transportation.